Popular broadcaster and veteran calypsonian Ronnie De Announcer Clarke has been fired from Starcom Network after the company found him guilty of serious misconduct following an internal disciplinary hearing, in a move that has shocked the media and entertainment community.
But Clarke said he will appeal the decision and plans to take his case to the Chief Labour Officer on Monday while his lawyer pursues legal options.
His termination letter, dated Friday and signed by Noel Wood, chief executive officer of parent company, the Nation Group, Clarke — who was programme director of Voice of Barbados (VOB) — was informed that the “misconduct” related to comments he made on the regular Marcia Weekes Show streamed on YouTube on July 16.
His remarks referred to Starcom’s objection to his performing his controversial hit calypso National Carol Festival in the Pic-o-De-Crop competition.
The company identified three of the seven statements made during the broadcast as breaches of Starcom’s Policies and Procedures Manual. The letter stated: “The statements were made in relation to Starcom Network Inc. and in a public forum, are false and malicious, and obviously and significantly detrimental to the best interests of Starcom Network in so far as they are disparaging, undermine the credibility [of] and directly attack the company.”
One of Clarke’s offending statements cited was: “‘We have this fear of addressing what they call the elephant in the room… when you are in an arena, transparency and fact are an expectation of the people that support you, whether they listen to you, whether they spend money with you, whether they work for you. It’s hard to be in a situation where you see that is not being delivered.’”
“My attorneys are appealing,” he also told Barbados TODAY late Friday.
“I will be sharing information publicly that has never been known. I appeared on the Marcia Weekes Show as De Announcer, and Starcom Network interpreted it that I appeared as the programme manager. I have been De Announcer for the past 21 years. I will take this all the way.”
His attorney, Senior Counsel Hal Gollop, told Barbados TODAY that all legal options available will be explored.
Clarke said he has refused to sign the termination letter.
Starcom Network General Manager Anthony Green could not be reached for comment. (EJ)
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